2018-19 Mid-Season Recap
The first half of the 2018-19 season has officially come to a close as of December 9th and all seven teams won't be back in action until 2019 rolls around, so let's take a look back at how each of the seven teams faired through the first semester of the 2018-19 season.
Men's Varsity
The Men's NCAA team has racked up a record of 10-4-1 so far this season and the Bulldogs sit at #3 in both the USCHO and D3Hockey.com rankings.
The Bulldogs fell to #7 in the rankings after dropping a game to St. Scholastica then tying Northland College but climbed back up to #3 after a convincing sweep of top-10 team Salve Regina on December 7th and 8th. The Bulldogs also took down the St. Norbert Green Knights this semester in a come from behind, overtime thriller at Arrington Ice Arena, climbing back from a 3-0 deficit in the final frame to take the game in overtime.
Players Making an Impact
Dino Balsamo: Balsamo leads the team in points, grabbing 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 13 games played. Balsamo seems to do it all for the Bulldogs this season, creating offensive opportunities, killing penalties, drawing penalties and getting under the skin of his opponents with ease.
Bryan Yim: Yim was twice the hero in the St. Norbert game this past November, scoring both the game tying and game winning goals for the Bulldogs. Yim has been one of the most consistent offensive threats for the Bulldogs in his senior season, racking up 11 goals and 5 assists for 16 points in 14 games. Yim is only 3 goals away from matching his career high for goals in a season heading into 2019.
Women's Varsity
The Women's NCAA team is off to a hot start this season, posting a 10-1 record in the first semester of the season, including a shu-out victory over longtime foe Plattsburgh State in November and an upset over Middlebury in the same weekend.
The big weekend for the Bulldogs would be enough to propel the Women's NCAA team to the #1 spot in both the USCHO and D3hockey.com polls in the weeks leading up to the semester break.
The Women's NCAA team is lead by not one, but two former Bulldogs this season. Shawn Skelly ('11) was named head coach this past August and fromer Women's NCAA captain Kaylyn Schroka ('17) joined him as an assistant coach this October.
Players Making an Impact
Kate Turner: Kate Turner is a phenomenal goaltender, perhaps the best that the team has ever seen. Turner currently sits atop the record for shutouts in a career (14) and GAA in a career (1.00). In just a season and a half with the Bulldogs, she also has managed to climb up to #4 in All Time Wins with 28.
Shelly Czarnowczan: Czarnowczan, a senior defenseman, finishes the semester second in points with 10 (4 goals and 6 assists) and leading the team's defensemen in points. Czarnowczan has already topped her total points from her freshman and sophomore seasons this semester and is one point away from besting her career high of 11 points in a season.
MD1
The MD1 team ends the first semester with an identical record from last season at 17-1, with their lone loss coming to the #2 ranked UM Dearborn Wolverines.
The Bulldogs ended the semeester on a high note, getting revenge on the Wolverines with a shootout victory in Dearborn on December 8th. The Wolverines were the second top-5 team that the Bulldogs would best in the first semester. The then #5 ranked Liberty Flames would come to town for the first top-5 matchup of the season this October where the Bulldogs would prevail with the weekend sweep.
As I predicted in my Season Preview, the Class of 2022 has already made an impact in their first semester of college hockey with 4 of 6 skaters registering over 10 points in the first half of the season and fitting in seamlessly as they make the jump to collegiate hockey.
The MD1 Bulldogs have 14 games remaining in the regular season before they host the GLCHL Playoffs here at Arrington Ice Arena in March.
The Dawgs are back in town on January 17th when they take on the Oakland University Golden Grizzles at 7:15 at Arrington Ice Arena.
Players Making an Impact
Brenden Stanko: Freshman forward Brenden Stanko is perhaps the most impactful of the freshmen class this season. Stanko finishes the semester with 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points, good for second overall on the team. Stanko is smooth and has a knack for scoring and isn't afraid to play physical when necessary. Stanko's slick moves and smooth skating and ability to hang on to the puck through defenders is similar to that of MD1's all-time leading point getter, Brad Kobryn ('18).
Justin Fisher: Captain Justin Fisher is not slowing down in his fifth season with the MD1 team. In fact, Fisher sits at #9 on the team in points this season with 17 (7 goals and 10 assists). Not only is Fisher averaging a point-per-game on the scoresheet, but is still the backbone of the Bulldog penalty kill, willingly standing in front of pucks night in and night out while shorthanded. No matter the situation, whether it be a penalty kill in a close game or a powerplay during a blowout game, Fisher gives the same amount of grit and effort into each and every shift, leading by example for the young Bulldog team.
WACHA
WACHA is the only undefeated Bulldog squad left after the first semester of hockey. A 15-0-1 record, which includes a tie and win over rival and reigning National Champions, the Liberty Flames, is good enough for the Bulldogs to sit comfortably at #1 in the ACHA rankings.
WACHA has rolled past every team they have played, including a sweep of CCWHA rivals Michigan State (6-4 and 6-1) and skating past Miami 3-2 and 2-1.
The Bulldogs have a mild schedule in the second semester until the last four games of the season, a two game series with Lindenwood-University Belleville before travelling to Virginia to face off against the Flames for a third and fourth time this season.
Players Making an Impact
Brittany Levasseur: Junior forward Brittany Levasseur is probably one of the most, if not the most, clutch player for the Bulldogs. She may not be picking up 6 points in an 18-0 blowout of Aquinas, but is exactly the player you want on the ice against teams like Liberty and Miami when you need a goal. Levasseur grabbed the game winning goals against Liberty and Miami this season and sits at #2 in goals in a career behind teammate Kaillie Hardy and will undoubtedly take the crown by the time she finishes her senior season next year and it will come as no surprise to me if she finishes her career as the program's leading point getter.
Dana Columbo: Junior goaltender Dana Columbo had big shoes to fill this season as I wrote in my season preview earlier this year. She has filled those shoes well since taking the starting goaltending job this semester, posting an 11-0-1 record that includes 3 shutouts and only 18 goals against in 12 games played as she has undoubtedly earned the title of starting goaltender for the Bulldogs.
MD2
Despite a hot start to the 2018-19 season, the Men's D2 team has fallen to 8-8-1 on the season at the start of the new year.
The young Bulldog squad finally topped fierce rivals, the Trine University Thunder to open their season at home this past October. The Bulldogs would also grab a split with the Grand Valley State University Lakers to close out the first half of the season on a winning note at home, but would drop their final game of the first semester on the road against the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire this December.
Players Making an Impact
Jack Clary, Adrien Sebag and Phil Pugliese: The two seniors are playing with newcomer Pugliese this season and the three forwards currently sit at the top three spots for team points so far this year. Clary (16), Sebag (19) and Pugliese (20) have combined for 55 points in only 17 games played so far.
WACHA D2
The WACHA D2 team is the second Bulldog squad to be coached by a pair of former Bulldogs. Former NWHLer Sarah Shureb ('17, Buffalo Beauts) took over head coaching duties this October and is joined in the bench with fellow Women's NCAA alumni Kelsey Dupuis this season.
Since dropping their first game of the year, the WACHA D2 team has gone on a hot streak, winning their next 12 games heading into Christmas break.
In those 13 games so far this season, the Bulldogs have put up 80 goals while only allowing 22.
The Bulldogs look to be clear contenders for the CCWHA playoffs in February as they look to bring home their first playoff title in their second seaon of play.
Players Making an Impact
Katie Hayward: It comes as no surprise to me to see that Katie Hatward is leading the WACHA D2 Bulldogs in points again this season. Hayward has compiled a grand total of 27 points in 13 games that includes 19 goals and three hat tricks. Hayward has already surpassed her season total in points in goals alone this season in only half of the games.
Grace Pavolich: The freshman forward from New Jersey sits at second in goals on the team and fourth in points while only appearing in 11 games for the Bulldogs. Of her 11 goals, 4 are game winning goals, more than anyone else on the Bulldog team and the second most in the entire country.
MD3
The MD3 team, lead by first year head coach Conall McNelis, posted an 8-7-1 record in the first semester of the 2018-19 season.
The Bulldogs would not grab their first win until the fifth game of the season, but they would then go on a 9 game unbeaten streak before ending the semester with a three game skid.
Among the 8 W's are wins against Trine and Oakland, two tough teams that the Bulldogs had a hard time with in the past few seasons. The Bulldogs defeated the Golden Grizzles 5-2 on the road and bested Trine 4-3 on the road as well.
The D3 Bulldogs only have four games remaining in the regular season before heading to the MCHC Playoffs in February and are back in action at home January 23rd at 7:00 pm.
Players Making an Impact
Henry Gabriel: Gabriel, a forward from Royal Oak, Mich, has definitely not fallen victim to the sophomore slump this season. The sophomore forward is currently sitting atop the team standings with 5 goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 16 games this season. Gabriel, who came in second overall last season, also leads the Bulldogs in assists.
Dylan Zelko: The D3 Bulldogs have historically had a tough time having a solid goaltending situation, the Bulldog netminders always seemed to be plagued with inconsistency or injury. Zelko, a freshman, has played in 5 games for the Bulldogs and is the only Bulldog goaltender above .500 this season with a 3-2 record. Zelko has posted a team best 3.60 GAA.
The most wonderful time of the hockey season is fast approaching with playoffs beginning in three short months and I for one, can't wait to see what the new year brings for the 7 Bulldog Hockey teams.